Nigeria President Goodluck Jonathan meets with Tinubu, Fashola, Akiolu

President Goodluck Jonathan, weekend, met with national leader of the Action Congress of Nigeria and former Lagos State Governor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu behind closed doors.
The meeting in State House, Marina, Lagos took place as President Jonathan returned from Ivory Coast where he joined other regional leaders for an emergency summit of the Economic Community of West African States, ECOWAS.

Nigeria Security Adviser make comment on PDP: Boko Haram tears Jonathan’s govt apart

*President takes on Azazi: He must explain himself
*PDP says he committed grave error
By Jide Ajani, Henry Umoru and Ben Agande
In what is becoming a very messy affair, President Goodluck Jonathan, yesterday, took on his National Security Adviser, NSA, General Patrick Azazi, on his comment that the insurgency in the country could be traced to the zoning arrangement of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, declaring that “people need to ask the NSA to explain what he really meant”.
Jonathan’s statement, which attempted to create a soft landing for Azazi by insinuating that he didn’t believe “that the NSA meant that the practice in the PDP are anti-democratic”, is coming at a time the PDP castigated the statements of the NSA.

Nigeria: 2015, Jonathan overheating the polity said Yuguda’s aide

A chieftain of the People’s Democratic Party, PDP, and former Chief of Staff to Governor Isa Yuguda of Bauchi State, Alhaji Shehu Gabon, weekend accused  President Goodluck Jonathan of overheating the polity with his presumed 2015 presidential ambition, saying that such ambition amounted to double standards.
He also welcomed the resignation by former President Olusegun Obasanjo as the chairman of the Board of Trustees, BoT, of the party, saying that having brought anarchy into the party through imposition of candidates,Obasanjo needed to give way for internal democracy to be restored in PDP.
According to him, Obasanjo was smart to have resigned the position because he would not have been re-elected if he recontested the position when it becomes vacant in July when his tenure would have ended.
His said there were ‘’a lot of contradictions on the part of Jonathan,’’ pointing out that the same Jonathan who banned PDP members from expressing their ambition to contest political positions in 2015 so as not to heat up the polity had turned out to be main person overheating the system.
His words, ‘’well, I think there are a lot of contradictions and I can remember vividly that just last month, the same President said some people are trying to overheat the system”.
’’He said they just won elections and he needed to stabilize. I think the President is among those that are trying to overheat the system. It is totally uncalled for and unwarranted for him to make such comments (talking about 2015 presidential election).
’’Constitutionally, President Jonathan has the right to contest elections and nobody is denying him this. I do not think it is wise for him to come and talk about it, because the timing and the situation in the country does not need such comments being made at this critical time.
’’He is less than one year in office and I think he should be a leader that should discourage people from overheating the system. It is wrong for him to make such statement at this critical time.
’’I have been following  some of the controversies that have been generated by Chief   Edwin Clark and I feel that it is not healthy for the country. I want to warn that if this country collapses, it will collapse on his head and history will record it.
’’As a promising young man who was ordained by God to rule this great country, I think he should think well and contain some of these issues that are coming up.’’
On the resignation of Obasanjo as BoT chairman, Gabon further said, ‘’The former president’s resignation is absolutely healthy for the party, because it will bring more prosperity for the party; and it will restore internal democracy that people are complaining about in the party. The architect of this lack of internal democracy in the PDP is Obasanjo.
’’He created this anarchy in our democratic structures through imposition of candidates; so it is a good development that he has left. The election into that office is coming up very soon and it was clear to him that if he contested again he would lose. ‘’So the best thing for him is to go with the little integrity that he has and even if someone accuses him of anything, he can boldly declare that he resigned on his own and that he was not booted out of office.
’’At least, he now has something he can defend himself with. I think that he was smart enough to do what he did (resign) and it is very okay. It is now that the party can have space to engineer, restructure and entrench the internal democracy that we are all agitating for. So I think it is also one of the best things that has happened to the party and there is no regrets about it. The party welcomes the development and did not beg him to come back.’

Jonathan seeks foreign assistance to fight Boko Haram

President Goodluck Jonathan has appealed to the German government to assist Nigeria fight the Boko Haram menace by deploying German technology to track down the terror group. Jonathan, who is on a state visit to Germany, made the call during a media briefing with German Chancellor, Angela Merkel in Berlin, Germany.
The president also assured investors that Nigerian government was deploying all arsenals within its disposal to guarantee the security of investors and their investments.
He said:  “As a nation, we have security challenges because most investors talk about security. At present, we have the local terrorist group code named Boko Haram. From publications on this terrorist group, it paints a very gloomy picture as if the whole country is in tatters. These terrorists operate in some states in the north east part of the country but go into other states from time to time.
“But what I can assure the global community, especially our investors from Germany, is that government is working very hard to bring it under control.”
He admitted that the Boko Haram sect took the security services by surprise as they employed tactics that were alien to the security apparatus but assured that government was on top of the situation.
He, however, added that “the area we expect our development partners especially countries like Germany to help is in terms of our security architecture, training and providing us with some modern equipment. You have to fight terrorists with technology because terrorists do not need to come with a rifle and you confront them one on one. They will surprise you, they will not come to engage you except to defend themselves occasionally.
Merkel  reacts
The German Chancellor, Angela Merkel, in her contribution  stressed her country’s resolve to work with the Nigerian government to bring the situation of Boko Haram under control, saying that Germany was in agreement with Nigeria on the dangers posed by members of the group to Nigeria and its reputation outside the country.
She added that  the bilateral commission between Germany and Nigeria should be able to discuss the issue with the aim of coming up with greater details of the areas where Nigeria may need help.
She said: “I think what is most important is the resolve of the Nigerian government to deal with such a group and to remain on top of the situation and protect the peace loving people of Nigeria who suffer most from such attacks.”
Italian govt to tackle Boko Haram
Meanwhile, the Italian government has offered to provide security services to the Federal Government to help it tackle the menace of Boko Haram sect.
Special Envoy of the Italian Minister of Foreign Affairs, Hon. Margherita Boniver who made the offer, yesterday, while meeting with the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, said Italy was willing to strengthen bilateral relations with Nigeria to help it tackle terrorism, human trafficking and poverty.
She said: “I am here to strengthen our excellent bilateral ties which have been historical for many years. We are ready to help in the areas of terrorism, human trafficking and roll back poverty to enhance international cooperation.”
She also expressed confidence with Federal Government and civil society for their efforts towards tackling terrorism, human trafficking in the country.
According to her, “in my capacity, I have had working sessions with civil society, and government officials and it is very rare that people hear positive appreciation regarding political agenda to end terrorism.”
Ekweremadu regrets death of Italian
Ekweremadu, in his response, said terrorism and human trafficking were condemnable evils that the Federal Government was battling to combat.
He asked the Italian government for assistance in the area of capacity building for security personnel, noting that government has made huge budgetary provisions to combat terrorism.
His words: “For us as a parliament, we condemn terrorism just as we condemn human trafficking and we are doing everything possible with the government to combat these two evils. Prior to 2010, terrorism was completely unknown in Nigeria in any form and we have joined hands with international communities to fight terrorism at the global level.”
“In 2012 budget we made substantial budgetary provision to provide sufficient security architecture that will help us to combat terrorism. We are trying to build capacity of our security agencies to deal with the latest security challenges.
“Like I said, we are never used to terrorism; we never believed that terrorism will come to our land, now it seems to be with us. This calls for help from those of you who are friends in the international community to assist us, to help build capacity to get over terrorism.”
He also regretted the death of an Italian national in 2012 in the hands of kidnappers, saying, “The unfortunate incident about the death of Italian citizen is something that is unfortunate; we use this opportunity to condole you and your government about the unfortunate incident.”

Parents of slain NYSC members urge Jonathan to fish out killers

One year after the brutal murder of 10 corps members in Giade, Bauchi State during the April 2011 general elections, families and friends of the victims, yesterday asked the Federal Government to bring perpetrators of the dastardly act and their sponsors to book.
They also demanded that the change which President Good Luck Jonathan represented should be reflected in every sector of the Nigerian polity. These were the statements of families and friends of Late Ikechukwu Ukeoma, one of the slain corps member and the other nine, during a briefing to mark their one year anniversary in Lagos.
According to their spokesman, Pastor Ike Onourah, “it has been one year of unquantified grief and pain and we are yet to come to terms with our loss, it has also been a whole year of deep reflections on what out dear Ikechukwu Ukeoma and his fellow departed corp members stood for.
It has been one year of utter dismay at how the issues that rose up as a result  of their murder have been silently swept under the carpet and it has been one year of constantly hearing the blood of these slain young men cry out for change while the same people they laid down their lives for make us belief today that this change is a mirage.
“As we stated earlier, the blood of Ikechukwu and his friends still cry out today for the change which they passionately believed that our dear President Good Luck Jonathan represented. A departure from the old way of doing things, a stop to economic deterioration and decay, job creation, change in the power sector, healthcare delivery, change in corruption which has become the bane of our society, change in infrastructural development”.

2015 Presidency: Drama as plaintiff withdraws suit against Jonathan

In a dramatic twist of events, the man who went to court to secure an order barring President Goodluck Jonathan from vying for presidency in 2015, Mr. Cyriacus Njoku, Wednesday, applied to withdraw the suit.
The plaintiff made the application on a day an Abuja High Court struck out a motion that was filed before it by President Jonathan, seeking the extension of time within which his lawyers could file his memorandum of appearance and counter affidavit in opposition to the suit dated March 20.

N-Delta youths vow to protect Jonathan’s presidency against Boko Haram

Following recent threat by Boko Haram Islamic sect to bring down the Federal Government led by President Goodluck Jonathan, youths of the Niger Delta have vowed to protect the presidency.
South-South Youth Leaders Forum and Association of Ethnic Nationalities in Niger Delta, in a statement in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, yesterday, described the statement credited to Boko Haram as a grand design by some northern elders to destabilise the country.
The statement by Amachree Odiadom and Mike Udofia, vowed to counter any such move by Boko Haram and called on the Inspector General of Police to immediately declare the leader of the sect wanted and commence a massive man hunt for him.
The group expressed worry over the silence by the northern political leaders and elites on the said comment, stressing that it was becoming clear by the day that Boko Haram was set up by some political class in the north to forcefully take over power from President Jonathan.
Calling on northern leaders and elites to caution Boko Haram, the youths said they would not hesitate to cut supply of petroleum products to the north and occupy oil and gas fields  in the South, if they fail to call their subjects to order.
The Niger Delta youths also urged the Federal Government to discontinue any plan to negotiate with Boko Haram.

Educating 9.5m almajirai: How far can FG go?

One of the objectives of the Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC) is to ensure the acquisition of appropriate levels of literacy, numeracy, manipulative, communicative and life skills as well as the ethical, moral and civic values needed for laying a solid foundation for life-long learning.
Resolute in achieving this objective and Education for All, EFA, by 2015, the Federal Government launched the Almajiri model school in Sokoto State, which would be replicated in other northern states of the country aimed at broadening the horizon of over 9.5 million almajirai on spiritual and moral values.
The term ‘almajiri’ is derived from the Arabic word ‘Almuhajirun’ which means someone who leaves his home in search of knowledge in Islamic religion. In Nigeria, the word has been used interchangeably to mean street urchins or one who abandons Quranic schools to beg for alms all the time.
President Goodluck Jonathan at the inauguration of the first Almajiri Model Boarding School in Gagi, Sokoto State, said his administration was aware that knowledge remains the pedestal on which a nation’s social cohesion and economic development depend, hence the need to cater for the educational needs of the Almajiris.
“It is alarming to know that there are 9.5million almajiri children in northern Nigeria. The almajiri system which started in the 11th century under the Kanem Borno Emirs leadership was aimed at training future scholars for the propagation of Islam.
“Unfortunately, it has become a platform for breeding vulnerable male children who live under some greedy Islamic scholars whose agenda are basically to financially exploit them while they fend for themselves through alms begging. Worse still, it has become a ground for radicalising children for misguided missions in recent times.”
Pointing out that its objective was drawn from the National Policy on Education and included the inculcation of national consciousness and national unity among the participants, the Minister of Education, Prof Ruquayyat Rufa’I, said the thrust of the policy are the acquisition of appropriate mental, social and physical skills, abilities and competences, as well as equipment for the individual to live in his society and to contribute to its development among others issues.
According to her, “Almajiri system is designed to build in young minds, sound doctrines of Islam as specified in the Holy Quran. Essentially, it was meant to teach children basic spiritual, moral and social values in order to enhance their sense of responsibility. Already, N5bn has been earmarked for this project.
“Its objective was principally drawn from the National Policy on Education and included the inculcation of national consciousness and national unity among participants, acquisition of appropriate skills, abilities and competences, as well as equipment for the individual to live in his society and to contribute to its development among others issues.”
The schools are equipped with six blocks of three classrooms each, 16 units of computers, science lab, vocational workshop, library, dormitory, dinning and recitation halls, Mallam’s quarters and a clinic. Under the programme, government plans to build a total of 400 schools in the 19 northern states, about 100 of which are expected to be delivered before the end of June this year.
Already, 35 of such model schools have been constructed, and states with large populations of almajirai will have both the boarding and day schools.
Commendations, knocks
Meanwhile, more commendations than knocks have continued to trail the policy, though some have expressed fears that the policy would go the way of the nomadic education policy initiated in 1989.
Established in 1989, the Nomadic education programme was to cater to the educational needs of nomads in the northern region. The programme, which has three major objectives of raising the living standard of the rural community; harnessing the potentials of the Fulani; and bridging the literacy gap between them and the rest of the society, recorded no meaningful development.
As education minister, Prof. Jubril Aminu facilitated the establishment of the Nigerian National Commission for Nomadic Education (NNCNE) to cater for an estimated  nine million nomads. By the 1995/96 academic session, 890 nomadic schools existed in 296 LGAs of 25 states. Of that number, states ran 608, LGs ran 130, and local communities 152. Of an estimated 3.1 million nomadic school age children, only 88,871 could be catered for.
It is on record that less than 10 per cent of Fulani men and two per cent of their women are formally literate because the nomadic education scheme was hampered by faulty procedure, inadequate finance, incessant migration of students, obsolete data,  and religious taboos.
Commending the federal government for taking calculated steps in ensuring equal access to education in the north, Policy Advisor, Civil Society Action Coalition on Education for All, CSACEFA, Mr. Wale Samuel, said the initiative is a policy aimed at using public funding of education to achieve the much needed equity in the society.
“There remains a huge gap between the rich and the poor and such education is useful in bridging this gap on the long run. However, we hope the initiative will be sustained and not suffer from ‘policy somersault’ which is the hallmark of policies and initiatives in Nigeria.”
The Sultan, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar, observed that the school system would provide succour and relief to millions who had been left out of the conventional school system as Nigeria cannot afford to allow the emergence of unequal societies and the adverse social consequences associated with it.
“We must endeavour to provide fair opportunities to every child and equip our school age population to lead productive lives and contribute their quota to national development. We must encourage self help and facilitate the establishment and sustenance of community schools by restoring the culture of endowment to support educational and religious institutions.”
Imams in some mosques in Gagi, Mallams Bello Shehu, Umar Naibi and Nasiru Mamuda, described the school as a welcome development, but lamented that the immediate community of Gagi was not adequately considered in enrolling the almajiris there.
“Government should have considered the almajiris in Gagi as well as recruited instructors from here, too. Government should also consider the attitude of the teachers that are being recruited to teach the almajiris,” Shehu said in the Hausa language.
“We are not sure of the credibility of the teachers that are being employed to teach the almajiris. The capability to impart knowledge is one thing and good characters of the teachers is another, but we are ready to cooperate if we are sure of the teachers’ characters.”
Calling on government to ensure adequate public enlightenment and restructuring of the Al-Mmajiri school system so as to ensure its success, former Governor of Kano State, Malam Ibrahim Shekarau, tasked government to embark on public awareness on the scheme as some people are still skeptical about the policy and its impact.
“The north needs qualitative and a holistic educational system for us to overcome the economic and security challenges facing us. There is the need for government to empower and carry the Al-majiri schools teachers (Ulamas) along in the design and teaching of the school curriculum. There is no need for government to build big schools equipped with chairs and tables before the scheme takes off. What is important is to empower the Ulamas and create the right environment for teaching and learning.”

2015 PRESIDENCY: I’ve not said I want to contest – Jonathan

ABUJA—AGAINST the backdrop of speculations on his political ambition, President Goodluck Jonathan has declared before an Abuja High Court that he was yet to indicate or announce anywhere that he would contest for presidency in 2015. The president was responding to a suit asking the court to disqualify him from contesting the 2015 presidential election.

Jonathan who approached the court through his consortium of lawyers led by Chief Ade Okeaya-Inneh, SAN, described the suit which was filed against him by a chieftain of his party, the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, Mr Cyriacus Njoku, as frivolous and highly vexatious. He insisted that the 1999 Constitution, as amended, permits him to contest for not more than two terms of four years each. The president, therefore, asked the court to dismiss the suit against him.

From left: First Lady, Dame Patience Goodluck Jonathan; President Goodluck Jonathan; Rt. Rev. James Oruwari, Bishop of Ogbia Diocese, Church of Nigeria (Anglican Communion); Gov. Seriake Dickson of Bayelsa State and his wife, Martha, after a Special Church Service at St. Stephen's Anglican Church, Otueke, Bayelsa State, yesterday. Photo: State House.

Meantime, presiding Justice Mudashiru Onyangi has slated April 18 to hear Jonathan’s application for extension of time within which his lawyers can file his memorandum of appearance and counter affidavit in response to the plaintiff’s suit dated March 20.

Specifically, the plaintiff had gone before the high court, praying it to bar President Jonathan from contesting presidential election in 2015, contending that he was already completing his second term in office. The plaintiff said his decision to seek judicial interpretation regarding whether the incumbent President can present himself as a valid candidate in the next general election, was sequel to a declaration he said was made by President Jonathan in the first week of March 2012, to the effect that he is still serving his first term in office.

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In A New Video Boko Haram Leader Threatens To "Devour" President Jonathan In 3 Months

Posted: April 12, 2012 - 15:28

In a new video posted on Youtube today, the leadership of the Jama’atu Ahl-Sunnati Lil Da’awati Wal Jihad popularly known as Boko Haram today stated that President Goodluck Jonathan cannot end its insurgency in June as publicly stated. Sheik Abubakar Imam Shekau the leader of the group also boasted that Nigerian security agencies cannot take down the sect by June 2012 as earlier promised by the president recently in South Korea.
The sect leader who appear agitated throughout the video recording was surrounded by several bodyguards. Shekau delivered the message via a Youtube video which lasted for 14 minutes and two seconds. In it Shekau also threatened to consume Jonathan's regime in 3-months.
The video message  was titled “Message To Jonathan”
In the preamble of the message, Shekau vowed that it must destroy  Christians and Christianity in Nigeria particularly those killing Muslims in Nigeria and it will also kill all Muslims aiding the arrest and harassment of its members.
The message as conveyed by its principal Sheik Abubakar Imam Shekau was mainly in Arabic and  Hausa language.
Shekau said, “You Jonathan cannot stop us like you boasted, instead we will devour you in the three months like you are boasting. If death is your worldly gain, for us, it is eternal victory to die working for Allah. Our joy is to die in Jihad for Allah against infidels like you…"
“We are also aware of some Muslims using our name to make money, we will say nothing but let them continue, and they will meet Allah in the last day.
“We are not doing physical human service, but Allah’s work and it is clear your aim is killing us. Let me tell you with Allah we will triumph over you and your men in hundreds. We are not boasting rather keeping quiet and working for Allah.
“Allah that finishes Pharaoh and others wicked rulers that you are not even up to them, will finish you and end your government. We are not afraid because we are not doing man work but Allah’s work. And we will see who will carry the day.”